March 7, 2015
Final Stats
UTEP 7, Middle Tennessee 0
UTEP 7, Middle Tennessee 4
EL PASO, Texas - The UTEP softball team used power, speed and dominant pitching to defeat Middle Tennessee twice to open Conference USA action. The Miners (5-19, 2-0 C-USA) shutout the Blue Raiders (9-7, 0-2), 7-0, in game one, followed by a 7-4 victory in the second contest on Saturday night at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
Tonight's league wins is the first 2-0 start since the 2012 campaign when UTEP opened up wins over Southern Misson March 10. UTEP's shutout win in game one was also its first goose egg since a 7-0 win over UAB on April 22, 2012.
"We try to do what we can to prepare for conference; we took our lumps throughout the course of the season," second-year head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. "When you're playing the best teams, I think you raise your level of play and when you're against a different team, you're still at that level. Today it paid off, but it doesn't mean that in the future. The team did a great job."
UTEP 7, Middle Tennessee 0
UTEP used a six-run first inning to put away Middle Tennessee early, while Kaitlin Fifield pitched her best performance of her young career.
Senior Tahla Wade got the party started with a leadoff triple to left field. She now holds the school record for career triples (seven). Jade Rodriguez followed with a bunt that plated Wade, giving the junior her first RBI of the season. Kawehiokalani Netane gave the Miners a 3-0 lead with a two-run home run over center field.
Ashley Eldridge tallied a two-run triple after Taylor Sargent and Kiki Pepi singled with one out. Kaitlin Ryder got Eldridge across the dish with groundout to second base, making the score 6-0.
Wade led off with a second-inning walk, while stealing second base. With one out, Netane recorded a bunt, advancing Wade to third. Netane then got caught in a rundown between first and second, paving the way for Wade to steal home plate.
Middle Tennessee couldn't recover, but never really got any offense going as Fifield held their speedsters in check. She pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits, walking three and recording eight Ks - one off her career high. She earned her second win of the season.
"We talk about not letting that pressure get to you, maintaining that composure and staying confident," Echo-Hawk said. "They did a great job and a lot of it has to do with Kaitlin (Fifield) in the circle. Her confidence radiates to everyone. They feel really comfortable with her."
Ryder also caught a base runner stealing in the fifth, helping to keep the speed in check.
Wade added another stolen base in the fourth inning, making it three for the game. Wade tied a school record for stolen bases in a single game (Andi Zolton stole three at Memphis on March 18, 2006). Sargent went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Eldridge also finished 2-for-3.
UTEP 7, Middle Tennessee 4
The Blue Raiders scored the first run during the first inning of the second contest, but the Miners answered with two runs of their own in the bottom half. Wade led off with a bunt single and Netane blasted another two-run jack, this time over the scoreboard.
Netane has hit four long balls in 2015.
Up 2-1 in the third, Eldridge put her squad up 5-1 with her second four-bagger of the season. Netane led off with a walk, following a Pepi walk with two outs. Eldridge then took a 1-2 pitch that went down the left field line, just inside the foul pole.
In the fourth, Sargent put the Miners up 6-1 with a sac-fly to center field that scored Wade.
But Middle Tennessee wouldn't go away, as it started a rally in the sixth. Danielle Pearson, who pitched six strong innings, got into a bit of a jam. The Blue Raiders led off with four consecutive singles, making the score 6-2. The opposition got within three runs from a sac fly and a walk with bases loaded, but a ball was hit to Courtney Clayton at second base to end the rally.
"Danielle pitched a good game up until that sixth inning," Echo-Hawk said. "She was keeping them off balance and getting the outs we needed to. She did what we needed for five solid innings, but she got herself out of a big jam in the sixth inning, which is big for her."
Wade, who singled to center to start the sixth, stole another base, and was then advanced to third on a Rodriguez sac bunt. Netane reached first on an error, as the run came across, giving UTEP a 7-4 lead and eventual victory.
Pearson earned her third win of the season, while Fifield recorded the save. Middle Tennessee led off the seventh with a double, but Fifield caught a pop fly and forced two groundouts to end the game.
Wade stole five bags in the two games, giving her 11 on the season. Chelsea Troupe holds the single-season record with 15 during the 2009 campaign.
Up next
UTEP and Middle Tennessee will play the series finale on Sunday. The third game of the series has moved to a noon start time. Kids get in free, while UTEP head football coach Sean Kugler is throwing out the first pitch.
